Circuit-interrupter tripping system



June 4, 1929. G. F. JONES CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER TRIPPING SYSTEM Filed April 12, 1925 INVENTOR firm 7540M Jonas.

M 'BY E I 7 AT'ToRNEY WITNESSES:

Patented June 4, 1929. 1,715,708 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

GORDON F. JONES, F IRWIN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- TRIO & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, ACOBPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT-INTERBUPTER rrnirrme sysrmr.

Application filed April 12, 1926. Serial No. 101,307.

Myinvention relates to circuit interrupter trippin systems and particularly to automatical y controlled electrical tripping systems.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatically controlled electrical tripping system for a circuit interrupter whereby repeated actuations of the tripping means are effected when. a single actuation thereof does 1 not accomplish the desired result, namely, the

tripping of the circuit interrupter.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a diagrammatic representation of an electrical systern embodying my invention. 4

.Referring to the drawing, a circuit interrupter 1 is connectedbetween two portions of an electric circuit 2. The circuit interrupter 1 is biased toward its open position by atension spring 3 and is adapted to be actuated to p its closed position in response to the energization of a closing coil 4. A latching member 5 that is securedtothe actuating mechanism of the circuit interrupter 1 is adapted to be engaged by a corresponding latching member 6 when the circuit interrupter 1 is in its closed position. The latching member 6 is supported by a pivot? and is normally adapted to be held in engagement with the latching member 5 by a compression spring 8. A trip coil 9 is provided with a vertical solenoid plunger 10, the upper end of which strikes against the latchlng member 6 to disengage the same from the latching member 5when the coil 9 is energized. The plunger 10 is normally out of engagement with the latching member 6 and is separated therefrom by a suflicient distance to permit the plunger to attain a considerable .momentum before striking the latching member 6 in response t'o'energization of the coil 9. Thus, the plunger 10 ef- '-fects .disenga ement of the latching members 5 and 6 by a ammering action. 7 An overload relay 11, the coil of which is connected to the secondary winding of a current transformer 12 that is associated with the main circuit 2, is provided with a switch that is adapted, when closed, to effect energi-" zationof the trip coil 9. The energizing circ uit for the trip coil 9 extends from the lower terminal of a battery 13 or other suitable a source of energy through the switch of the 5 and 6 are 1;; engagement as shown in the 110 15 andl ly-closed switch 14 of a time-delay relay 15,

and an auxiliary switch 16 of the circuit interrupter 1 to the upper terminal of the battery 13. The auxiliary switch 16 is closed when the circuit interrupter'l is closed and is open when this circuit interrupter is'open. A second time-delay relay17 is provided with an operating coil that is connected in parallel relation to the trip coil 9. The relay 17 also comprises two switches 18 and 19 which are open when the operatin coil of this relay is deener ized. Each of t e relays is adapte to be actuated to its en-- erglzedposition immediately upon the energization of its operating coil, but the return of these relays to their deenergized positions ppon the deenergization of the operating coils is delayed by dash-pots 20 and 21, respectively, or other suitable retardin means.

. Thenecessary retarding 'eect of the dash- .pots 20 and 21 may bedetermined in accordance with the requirements of the particular installation, but ordinarily, an relatively slight retardation, such as a d second or less, will be suflicient.

The switch 18 of the time-delay relay 17 is connected in parallel relation to the switch of the'overload relay 11 in the energizing circuit of the trip coil 9 and the operating coil of the relay 17. A manually operable switch 22 is also connected in parallel relation to the switch of the overload relay 11, whereby energization of the trip coil 9 may be efiected manually as well as automatically.

It will be understood that switches that are closed in response to any other desired conditions may also be connected in parallel relation to the switch of the overload relay 11 to efiect energization of the tri coil'9 in res onse to any desired conditions.-

- e switch 19 of the relay 17 is connected in series with the operat' coil of the relay 15 and the auxiliary switc 16 of the circuit interrupter 1. Thus the operating coil of the relay 15 is energized in response to the actuation of the relay '17 to its energized position at any time while the circuit interrupter 1 is closed.

In describing the operation of the a embodying my invention, let it first aselay of one sumed that the circuit interrupter 1 is in its closed'position and is held in this position by reason of the fact that the latching members drawing. Upon the occurrence of an overposition to reclose the switch 14. The closload or short-circuit in the circuit 2 the opering of the switch 14 is likewise retarded by ating coil of the overload relay 1 1 is sufiicientthe dash-pot 20. 1y energized'to cause this relay to closeits 'By reason of the action of the dash-pots switch. i I 20 and 2l,asuflicie nt interval oftime is inter- 73 The energizing circuit of the trip coil 9 is posed between the opening of the switch 14 therebyfcompleted from the. lower terminalf and the'reclo'sing thereof to insure that the of the battery 13 through theswitch of t e 3 plunger of the trip coil 9 has returned to overload relay 11, the switch 1401?- the timeits normal position. "Therefore, upon the 10 delay relay. 15, and the auxiliary switch 16 ;reclos ing of the switch 14 to energize the a of the circuit interrupter 1 to the upper trip:-- coil. 9 asecond time,vthe' plunger 10 terminal of the batte 13. .The solenoid is again actuated through its full path of plunger 10 of the trip coil 9 is thereupon movement to permit it to attain its nor-q:

- caused'to strike forcibly against the latching male momentum before striking against the 5 member 6. This blow isordinarily sufiicient latching .{member 6; If the second blow .to actuate the Hatching 'memberfi out of en--. does not effect opening of the circuit intergagement with thelatching member 5 to perrupter 1', the same cycle of: events will be p mit the circuit interru ter 1 to be actuated repeated to cause a continuous hammerin to its open positionbyt e tension spring 3. action of-the plunger 10 against the latching 20 If the latching member 6 fails todiseng'age memberfi as long as the circuit interrupter 1' 5 the latching member-.5,jh owever, or -if,-. for {remains closed. -Upon the opening of the I any reason, the closing coil 4 01. the "circuit; circuit interrupter 1,-- the auxiliary switch 16 interrupter 1 should be energized when the thereofis alsoopeed andall of the conlatching member tidisengages.theglatching trolling device's'iare-jthereupon deenergized.

member 5, the circuit interrupten1-wi1l reigg-rFrom theforegoing description, 'it will be i i main in .its .closed "positioni--.-.'-Under' such seenthat I'fha've provided means whereby conditions, itis necessary tocause the plunger ,the'trip coil plunger .of a circuit interrupter 10 to strike a second blowagain'st the latch- 1'"willzstrikejepeatedhammer blows against I g m 6 in. Order-t0 11 h6QiNuit thetripping latch thereof solong as the cirinterrupter 1 to be o ened-Ji -Before this can- }cuit: 'interrupter; remains closed during the be mpli h d efi c ively, i is necessary: existence f predetermined abnormal condih h e tnp coil 9 be momentarlly deene tio'nS; "f-By1utilizing this invention, great 'gized toiiiermit the plungerlO to return to lts'fldsse'stwhichlfihave ocurred by reason f th normal positio vThi i accomplished by; failure oft-a circuit .interrupterto' open in 35 the operation of; the relays 15 an 17; 'l. P i 0 8. Singleactuation of its tripping At the same time that the'trip coil QZisniechaniSmmay be prevented. Itwlll beenergized in response to the operation of the r dil i t d th t th y t b dyoverload relay 1-1, the operating c011 of. th e-...i my invention'is very-economical, simple -d y y 1 31 ne g r to install, and reliable in its operation.

- this COll is connected in'parallel relatlonto 13116 While I have. describeda, single embodi.

. trip coil 9. The relay 17istherefore actuated m t f-m i ntion, Iid tn t, i h t b to its energized position at the same time limited thereto, as various changes in the that the plunger 10 1s actuated into engagetypes ofapparatus and connection of circuits ment with the latching member .6. When may be made without departing from the the relay 17 is in -lts energized pos tl n, s spirit and scope of my-inventiomas set ,forth 11o switch 18 s closed to complete a temporary i th d d l i holding circuit in parallel relation to the j l l i as m i nti m Wefload e yand -"1."In an electrical system', in combination,

I switch 19 1S closed complete the energiz; .a' circuit interrupter, means for'holding the 50 in circuit of the t1me-delay relay 15. "gcircuit interrupter closed, tripping means for Y the time thflt the P g 10 has 8171110]! rendering the holding means'inefiective, and

against the latching member 6, the operating 0011 of the relay 15 is thus energized to cause this relay to open its switch 14;. The openf means for actuatmg the tripping means repeatedly until tripping action is efiected.

'2.- In an electrical system, in combination,

ing of the switch 14 interrupts the ene g ing a circuit interrupter, means for holding the. circuit for he trip coil 9 and the opera lng circuit interrupterclosed, trippin means forcoil of the relay 17, thereby permitting thesedevices to return to their deener ed posit1ons. The return of the relay 1 to its do energized position is so retarded by the dashpot- 21 that the opening of the switches 18 and 19 is delayed momentarily. When the rendering the holding means ine ective, and 1 means responsive to predetermined conditlops for'efi'ecting repeated actuationsof the tripping means Solong as the said conditions p prevail and thec1rcu1tinterrupter remains -closed.

switch .12; has opened, however, theoperat- 3.. In an electricalsystem, the combination '1 ing coil of the relay 15 is deenergized to per'-.

mit this relay to return to its eenergized =witha circuit, a circuit interrupter therein,

means for holdingthe circuit interrupter in 1,30

its closed position, and tripping means for rendering the holding means ineffective, of means comprising a plurality of relay devices for effecting repeated operations of the trip- 7 ping means.

time-delay relay devices for effecting repeated' operations of the tripping means.

5. In an electrical system, the combination with a circuit, a circuit interrupter therein, means for holding the circuit interrupter in its closed position, and tripping means for rendering the holding means ineffective, of a rela device responsive to a'predetermined con ition of the circuit for effecting an initial operation of the tripping means, and two electrically interlocked relay devices for effect ing repeated operations of the tripping means as long as said predetermined conditions-of the circuit exist and the circuit interrupter remains closed.

6. A circuit interrupting system comprising an electric circuit, a circuit interrupter therein, means for biasing the circuit interrupter toward its open position, means for closing the circuit interrupter, a latching member for holding the circuit interrupter in its closed position, aplunger ada ted to engage the latching member, a so enoid coil for actuating the plunger into engagement with the latching member to cause the same to release the circuit interrupter, an overload relay associated with the electric circuitfor effectin'g energization of the solenoid coil, and two electrically interlocked relay devices for periodically 'efi'ecting deenergization and reenergization of the solenoid coil.

'7. A circuit interrupting system comprising an electric'circuit, a circuit interrupter therein, means for biasing the circuit interrupter toward its open position, means for closing the circuit interrupter, a latching member for holding the circuit interrupter in its closed position, a plunger adapted to engage the latching member, a solenoid coil for actuating the plunger intoengagement with the latching member to cause the same to release the circuit interrupter, an overload relay associated with the electric circuit for effecting energization oi the solenoid coil, and

two electrically interlocked relay devices for periodically effecting deenergization and reenergization'of the solenoid coil as long as an overload condition exists in the circuit and the circuit interrupter remains in its closed position.

8. Acircuitinterruptingsystemcomprising an electric circuit, a circuit interrupter there- I in, means for biasing the circuit interrupter toward its open position, means for closingthe circuit interrupter, a latching member for holding the circuit interrupter in its closed position, a plunger adapted to engage the latching member, a solenoid coil for actuating the plun er into engagement with the latching 'mein er to cause the same torelease the circuit interrupter, an overload relay associated with the electric circuit for effecting energization of the solenoid coil, a slow-releasing relay device connected in parallel relation to the,solenoid coil, a second slow-releasing relay device arranged to be energized-when the firstmentioned slow-releasing device attains its energized position, and a switch actuated when the second mentioned slow-releasing device is ener ized to deenergize the solenoid coil. and the rat-mentioned slow-releasing device.

9. In combination, an electric circuit, circuit controlling means therefor comprising a movable circuit controlling member, means for holding the member in the circuit closing I position and means for releasing saidholding means, and means operative in response to an abnormal circuit condition for repeatedly actuating the releasing means as lon as the abnormal condition lasts and the hol ing means fails to be released.

10. In combination, an electric circuit, circuit controlling means therefor comprising a circuit controlling member biased for movement to the circuit opening position, meansfor holding the member in the circuit closing position and means for releasing said holding means, and electromagnetic means operative in responseto'an abnormal circuit condition for effecting the energization and deenergization of the releasing means alternatel as long as the abnormal condition lasts an the r holding means fails to be released.

11. In combination, an electric circuit, circuit controllin means therefor comprising a circuit control ing member biased for movement to the circuit opening position, means for holding the member in the circuit closing position' and means for releasing the holding means, a protective relay operative in response to a predetermined abnormal circuit condition, and means for repeatedly actuating the releasing means as long as the abnormal condition lasts and the circuit controlling member fails'to move from circuit closing position comprising an impulse relay arranged to be energized on operation of the protective relay and to effect energization of the releasing means, and a control relay arranged to be energized on operation of the impulse relay andto effect the deenergization thereof and thereby the deenergization of the releasing means and itself.

In testimony whereof, I have hereuntosubscribed my name this 7th day of April 1926.

GORDON r. JONES. 

